Audis marketing team truly has some balls. To proactively push that “lots of weight can be an advantage”-argument, that doesn’t make any sense at all, is just mind boggling to me.

Jonny Smith is my favourite car reviewer. He is knowledgeable, not only about the vehicle he's reviewing, but all similar cars and competitors. He's fair but doesn't shy away from pointing out possible problems, flaws and issues. I also like that Jonny offers his personal opinions on the vehicles he's reviewing but makes it clear that they are opinions, not facts. While I really enjoy the videos Robert makes - Fully Charged is one of my favourite channels - I do hope that it will be Jonny who does all vehicle reviews. If I could ask for one thing it would be more news segments from both Robert and Jonny... they're great together. All hail Faraday Past!

I like Fully Charged, and I like all EV's. But I kind of miss the critical points of view that (for example) Bjorn Nyland provides. You're testing an EV in hot conditions while for most of NW Europe the cold weather performance is much more important. EV's do fine in the heat. Not so much in the cold. Will you do real-life testing with the I-pace, E-tron and Model 3? That would be awesome, and I think a lot of people would like to see this!

11:44 "Good for night time hookups" ;-)

It’s good to see Audi, VW, and Porsche all sharing their electric platforms. P.P.E. For the larger cars and the M.E.B. ID platform for smaller cars.

You could take a Ferrari on that "off - road" track.

With respect, in regards to your analysis at the end, you are not the target consumer for this car (hyper aware EV expert, all in on electric cars saving the world). This looks to be designed for the driver that changes Audi's every 2-3 years, that wants to try out an electric car without changing to much of their life style. I think Audi will do well and the next version (that will naturally get lighter, faster, etc) will do even better.

Just fyi some comparison numbers: Tesla Model X:24.8 kWh per 100 km ((39.9 kWh/100mi). Audi e-tron: 30.5 kWh/100 km (49.1 kWh/100mi). Jaguar I-Pace:31.3 kWh/100 km (50,37 kWh/100mi) Sauce:German electric car rental company nextmove

Hey Jonny, the problem with camera mirror is focus, with real mirror your eyes focus far, when looking at the road and glancing the mirror. With display - your eyes now need to focus near and then far again.. that is the disturbing part with changing mirror to display. This little extra work and delay for your eyes is something that a lot of people will find not so comfy, I believe. (test it by looking far and your hand and far and your hand.. )

The 250 miles range with a 95kwh battery pack seems poor.

Mass helps... for locomotives, with steel-on-steel wheels.

How about test driving at the other extreme condition. Sub zero conditions in Finland. I would like to know how these vehicles perform in cold climate conditions.

I just realized that I started this video and clicked like after 3 seconds because its fully charged. I don't do this with other channels. 😄

Jonny always mentions the paddles being ‘wrong’, they’re done that way to act similarly to dropping gears in an ICE vehicle. Also western convention is that we make progress left to right, so slowing progress by pulling the left paddle fits.

Today, I just saw my first Audi e-tron on the road, black exterior. Brilliant. Right sized, superb build quality, gave the driver a double thumbs-up and she blushed and smiled. ME: : "So"?" She: "Great. Love it." And then she was gone, leaving my X5 in her dust. Seriously impressive.

I'll wait for the e-Tron Jeff Bridges Edition with some early 1980s style retro computer graphics.

VAG Group demonstrates that they are a lot better in marketing that in true innovations and real technological advances. The efficiency and the weight of this e-tron are absolutely awful, and technically way behind Tesla or Hyundai.

It's nice dont get me wrong, but im still buying a Rivian. 👍👍👍

Jonny Smith is by far the best motoring journalist around, along with this channel with brilliant quality content, an absolute must to view. Thank you very much indeed🎥👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

The main advantages of side cameras instead of mirrors: 1) less drag, 2) being able to see the images on the console straight ahead and not taking your eyes off the road as much, 3) eliminating blind spots. However, they have not completely eliminated the drag and appear to have images in the doors still. Doesn't seem to fully take advantage of the technology.

I can see lines of these parked outside Tarquin & Penelope's prep school as their Ladies-Who-Lunch-Mums drop them off on the way to their Yoga class. They'll sell bucket loads of them!!

"Modularer Elektrobaukasten" is probably the most german way to describe that thing lol

6:55 "The customers want something they're familiar with." When it comes to exterior: 100% correct! :)

Wow.. this probably was the best fully charged episode ever

Regarding mass: An EV has a bi-directional powertrain, that can transfer energy both into its mass (via gaining velocity) and also to recover some of that Kinetic energy when it slows down, and return charge to the battery storage system. However, such is the way of the universe (the law of entropy) that process can never be 100% efficient when the energy has to change state, in this case, kinetic energy stored in the cars mass converted to chemical energy in the battery. In fact, for a typical EV with a modern Permanent magnet motor and Pulse width modulated inverter, the overall round trip efficiency is around 75%. That 'round trip' consists of the following: Chemical Energy -> DC electricity -> AC electricity -> Rotational Mech energy -> Linear Energy (KE) -> Rotational Mech energy -> AC electricity -> DC electricity -> Chemical Energy Of course, to recover all that energy, the friction brakes must not be used by the driver (Regen only)! So, what does this mean? well it means two things: 1) In terms of energy consumption, the vehicles mass only looks like ~25% of what it actually is. Ie, a 2,000 kg EV driven for mas economy only using regen to slow, consumes energy during changes of speed at a similar magnitude to a ICE vehicle of 500kg! 2) A passenger car that is usually driven at speed between 30 and 70 mph actually uses most of its energy simply pushing air out the way. The aero drag is by far the largest consumer. Drag that is proportional to the vehicles mass is actually quite small, and is principally made up of mostly tyre loses (hysteresis in the tyre carcass) and a bit of load dependent friction rotating elements like bearings etc So when Audi say "mass helps" the truth is no, no it doesn't, but it is also true that mass for an EV is far, far less important than drag when we are talking about total energy consumption.

Excellent honest review well done Jonny. To safe and to expensive to get the numbers Audi are looking for. The German guy is wrong. You can’t charge 70 grand and make a car with steel panels and bin parts from other motors. Hurried to the market place before they missed the boat but missed the point instead.

I like the fact Audi is at this point with the E tron and I can see Audi buyers liking it. Will be interesting to see how Audi makes out with their E-tron going forward.

4:23 It charges faster than my phone lmao

Oddly, there are a couple of points where Johnny starts making a point, then seems to get distracted and forgets to complete it. Separately, 95kwh for sub 250 mile range? And people complained that the Jag iPace was inefficient... :D Edit: And it strikes me that with the 'camera' mirrors, you can't get a wider view etc by moving your body (the way you can with a mirror) - especially with e.g. low winter sun - with a normal mirror, you can try to sit up / scrunch down to get a view without the sun, but you can't do that with the camera setup)

It's a nice car.....but £70k.....Joe Public hasn't got a chance!

Thanks for being honest. Fully Charged usually is very much on the positive side, sometimes to the point where I feel like you guys are trying too hard to make every EV look awesome. Very happy to see that you are being honest about not being blow away by this car.

The more I watch this channel and its content, the more I am swayed towards my next vehicle being an EV....only the though of how quickly this tech moves along stops me, and its also the reason why I'll still have a piston motor for the next few years......one day Fully Charged, one day. Great videos people 👍

Jonny Smith, what a great addition to the team. I hope these companies can welcome the honest reviews and not expect a babbling drooling love fest all the time. I think you hit all the right points good and bad and who will enjoy this Audi the most. When we start to take certain features as expected and are looking for more it shows EVs are getting out of the honeymoon phase and into real competition. Keep it up.

2.5 Ton car... for Fook's sake!! Is it a Panzer Tank or a Soccer Mom's new toy?

One day there will be in a museum of transportation somewhere this Audi e-tron and an electric car from the early twentieth century. It will show how the electric car looks like a handsome cab without a horse and the Audi looks like an ice car without an engine. It will be a display on how form does not follow function but rather the inflexible minds of the designers, even over the course of a century.

I appreciate your honest opinions in this vid. Keep it up & don't feel obligated to sugar coat a review just because they let you test drive and record in an exotic place!

Why diden´t you ask the Audi representative about the choice to go for steel over aluminium..? Seemed like a missed opportunity. Love the car though.

@Johnny the minus paddle increases regen because it resembles putting in a lower gear in an ICE car. So engine/motor braking in both type of cars with the left paddle 😀

"Night time hookups. Not like that." LOL! Love the video's guys.

Glad to see Jonny gives it an honest review rather than fawning over it simply because it's electric, nice work. [edit]: And those camera mirrors are just another thing to go wrong. And be expensive.

I would buy this for $40K

So let me understand Audi says more mass equals more energy. They solved the energy problem. Yeah right.

Can't wait for this platform to appear in a Macan, now that would be worth my hard earned

I wished you had elaborated on two points. 1. How autonomous ready is the car? 2. Why Audi choose steel when everyone else sees that as a disadvantage? Regen cannot be the whole story. Thanks.

I would have like Johnny to ask him why it was built with steel. It might have been an interesting answer. Probably just cost though.

Too heavy, looks boring, no need for camouflage as there is nothing spectacular in design. The grill is ridiculous.nextmove in Germany did a nice comparison between an old Model X, the new Etron and the iPace. The consumption of the Etron is nearly as bad as with iPace. The old Model X blew them away. The sound proofing is brilliant, though.

The quality of your content is really shining through - kudos. Good even handed and enjoyable review by Jonny and the production quality continues to impress - the transition edit at 11:48 is superb!

another honest review by Jonny.... These are so worth so much more than all the others out there attempting to do reviews... Thanks, Jonny.

Is anyone else fascinated by the urban planning and infrastructure of these newly built cities?

I'm not convinced at all for £82,240. In real life day to day ownership (Not off-roading in nature reserves) much cheaper South Korean BEV's have the high ground.

This is a really honest interview. It's not begging for attention, it's just a calm honest review. Thanks man!

Another great review. Jonny Smith, you sir are the best motoring journalist going.

I remember the Tamiya Hornet! :D

Camera side mirrors are an excellent idea but this implementation of the idea is unbelievably bad. The camera should be at or near the top of the A pillar to avoid road spray and impacts. The screens should be as near the same sightline as the interior rear view mirror as possible.

11:45 Johnny like the lights on for night time hook ups! 😂😂😂

My thoughts on range & price... I remember 20+ years ago when I bought an IBM PC. The price was about $4,000 USD for a desktop model and CRT. It weighed 20 Kgs and would barely run basic Windows, but I thought it was so cool. That's the equivalent of the product maturity of the EV market. Will the price / range / performance get better with each generation... Hell yeah. To all the nay-sayer's -- Enough whining. Buy into the Audi, JLR, Tesla and others, EV future. We / society have no choice except to start down the EV technology path now. In spite of Trumpty Dumpty's denials, we can't keep going down the path of global climate change. Another great Fully Charged video thanks Jonny. You should do this with Mr Sniff as well for his commentary & humor.

The Tesla model x was supposed to have cameras for side mirrors but lawmakers said no.

I don´t like Audi ... and I don´t like this guy Stefan Niemand (Chief of Electromobility at Audi). I was on a event where he was making jokes and fun of Tesla ... Quote: "Tesla is not able to run mass production ... we can ... Teslas reduce power at top speed ... we don´t ... bla bla bla. What he did not tell: The E-tron is limited to 200km/h ... so you willnever find out if the E-Tron needs to reduce power like the Teslas at ~230km/h. Sorry, but I don´t like arrogant people believing that they are the best and others don´t know how to build proper cars/ EVs. Thats why I will never ever buy an Audi.

Video mirrors are a good thing! I drove with my own home brew units, and there are lots of advantages: smaller frontal area and lower coefficient of drag - which increases range. When they are done right, you have much smaller blind spots. You don't have to change anything between drivers. You don't get blinded by headlights. In the rain and fog, you have less of an issue with obscured vision. Edit: the location of the screens is key. I put my two 7" screens side by side right in front of me. This was in a Scion xA, and I can see both sides of the car - by looking in 1 place.

Best series on youtube

Cars without wing mirrors make a lot of sense for electric, unfortunately I feel Audi have missed a trick with this car. They appear to neither be ergonomically placed in the cabin, or particularly efficient outside the car. Ideally the cameras would form part of the main body so they don't "stick out". How you resolve the interior is a tricky one, maybe some sort of HUD on the windows ala BMW M6 display. Maybe the right answer is to revisit what they are for and whether a conventional view is even required? Maybe a simple blind spot warning would suffice if the coverage is sufficiently wide? Like Jonny, I'm not particularly impressed with the e-tron - they've bringing a car to market that's barely matching what Tesla launched years ago. THAT SAID, it is precisely the kind of car that would get my ICE friends into an EV. it looks like a 'normal car', non-offensive and unlikely to draw unwanted attention. I feel you could happily drive this in incognito mode and think nothing more about it. That price tag does sting though, 50k~ would be a better base (and that's still a lot of money). Great review, almost unfully charged like which sometimes falls foul of being a little non-critical (cough, sion).

I don't often disagree with Jonny, but I think the Audi is just not that nice to look at. I generally don't like the SUV vehicle look anyway, but both the Model X and iPace are prettier examples, for me. And there's taking a traditional look too far by keeping the wind dragging token grille, and yet adding wing cameras, which stick out in the wind as well. So, for me, it doesn't work. It's bitzy and flawed, as if Audi rushed it to market, in order to put their part in diesel-gate behind them. The nice thing is that it does a lot of things well, so there's a very good basis. So, sort it out properly Audi, especially as I understand You and Porsche have reverse-engineered a Model 3 and was shocked at how more advanced it was than your EV product.

I'm considering a Jag. This video didn't change my mind. The beating the I-Paces put up with in thier racing series is impressive.

Another outstanding (and honest) presentation from Jonny Smith, who has become my favorite automobile reviewer.

Just waiting for FullyCharged to get their hands on a E-Tron GT and/or Taycan

This car is D.O.A. Why would anyone buy this instead of a Model X?

Level headed, honest opinion. It's what makes Fully Changed by far the best EV news source. And Jonny knows there is motor at the front and back, not an 'engine' as Mr Audi representative said.

9:00 - the problem with most off-roading here in Australia is that they like the noise and smoke. It attracts a special kind of person.

Fully Charged is like Top Gear/The Grand Tour: except with good presenters, entertainment and relevancy...

It's such a good review!

As a calm person that drives a whacky car like the Zoe, I actually dig this calm version of an Audi. It doesn't look too traditionally unimaginative, like an Audi. I could imagine owners of these cars *not* driving up others bums on the motorway. If it was cheaper, it would be a total winner.

In the US some call the front trunk the "frunk", and Jonny here calls the front boot a froot, "fruit". Brill.

We are only going to see truly great EVs from the established manufacturers when they change from vehicle architecture and production lines designed for ICE vehicles. The e-tron is rather underwhelming, the range, the weight, the price (possibly a significant production delay) and I agree with the comments regarding the optional mirrors. Those on the test car, do not represent any advantage over a conventional mirror. It must surely be possible to have cameras that don't stick out waiting to be knocked off by a passing van driver. And the screens would be better further up the A post? They are really going to have to try a lot harder. It makes you wonder if they are taking EVs seriously. They are in danger of getting left behind because I think business and the public are not that far off from understanding that EVs have many more advantages than disadvantages, running costs being a rather significant one.

I have been sorta mulling over this car as a future replacement of my 2017 Volvo XC90 (D5 AWD). I want to get away from ICE and in to EV's. But there's NO WAY I'm shelling out some €75k to do it, especially given how heavy this car is. No way. :-(

Jonny really knows how to review a car! Top work as usual guys!!

This is THE EV for the moment. Could I afford it I would buy it! There is basically no competition at this level.

I bet they'll change the name in french speaking countries... E-Tron = Etron = Turd...

THE WEIGHT UNLOCKS " THE HUMMER TAX CREDIT" IN USA $26 K BUSINESS TAX CREDIT hmmmmm !!!! I wonder ---

Jonny's reviews are superb. Love the detail and how he takes with passion about things that don't normally get a mention. Thanks.

A good honest review. Thanks again, Jonny.

Why don't they just put the "mirror" screens at the base of the A pillar

A Sono would have been better for this place. And Sono has 3 independent rear seats. SUVs are not the good path. But we are not supposed to compare cars according to their releventness, but by category, how stupid... I think it would be quite more logic to compare this 5 seats Etron to a model 3 (even if it is not a SUV) rather than a model X, but off course it would loose on all valuable points : range, safety, acceleration, efficiency, price, etc. And in Europe the model 3 can acces both Tesla and CCS networks...

Love the Firebird shirt :D I went from an '89 Firebird to a Prius in a bit over 10 years :D

One of the reason I got the Jaguar I-Pace is because of Fully Charge’s reviews of the car. I’m glad I got my “bespoked” I-Pace to replace my Audi A3 e-tron instead of this Audi e-tron Quattro.

I think it's ugly as sin. Dunno, really can't like it; as much as I've tried. Jag, Kia, Tesla and Rivian have this thing beat...It's just fat and boring.

Nice Car, poor EV in my eyes. Fully charged is a bit late with this review though...

Typical Audi. Extremely well designed. Just a shame I can’t afford one. Jonny you are excellent as always. Could watch your car reviews all day mate 👍

Great episode! Thank you! Every new episode is like a celebration and a sign of the development. Excited for the Rivian news/videos btw!

its worse than the I-pace and more expensive. hmm

It look like they took a normal boring Audi and put two electric motor in it. Why in hell they made it from steel? 🤔

Had a bit of a kick of nostalgia when I saw the Tamiya T-shirt!

Wonderful, wonderful, review; world class journalism, we enjoyed very much, thank you for your service, always highly appreciated!

if anyone tells you they prefer a Jag over an Audi don't ask them where they are from. It's so obvious.

No-one has yet mentioned that since this video was made, Audi have announced that they are having problems with this car's battery meeting it's targets. As a result Audi are putting production back 18 to 24 months !!!!! Meanwhile Tesla is pumping out it's cars with Model 3 now arriving in Europe literally by the boatload. Honestly I think this is a poor bloaty product that may never get produced for the public in it's current (sic) form.

The production and presentation is amazing

One of very honest reviews i saw on KZfaq. Keep it up.

yeah..I gotta disagree with Jonny for once.. Audi doesn't really give a shit about selling EVs.. Audi wants you to believe they do.. but they don't. I came out of a few Audi's.. I loved em.. but this company is blowing a lot of smoke right now.. and Jonny seems to not be seeing through it very well. I get it.. they were nice to invite you.. you gotta be polite to some degree.. but there needs to be criticism where it is deserved.. and this car deserves a LOT of criticism. Oh yeah.. sure it's great, there's another EV on the market! It's nice.. it's better then another ICE model.. but this thing is a COMPLETE disappointment considering Audi has had at least 7 years of watching what Tesla has had on the road in the field.. and THIS is their best effort? Common.. it's pathetic that a company as big.. as premium.. as experienced.. as Audi.. to have THIS as their best effort to break into EVs and show up Tesla. P a t h e t i c.. my opinion... but lack or range.. lack of performance.. lack of tech (ooo it's got a camera mirror.. big f'n deal).. Ok, it's got a bit better regen.. it's a little faster charging, IF you can find one.. and it's a bit quieter cabin... common.. really? that's the best you could do Audi? really???? That's what you consider showing up Tesla in the market?? WTF!? Or are you pulling your punches because you KNOW if you built what you COULD build.. no one would buy your ICE cars.. and that's still your money maker.. and you're still being leaned on by big oil to keep that gravy train rolling... that's the f'n problem here.. this is a half hearted effort to just.. tick a box.. this thing is a joke compare to what they SHOULD have built. Rivian is building a 0-60 in 3ish seconds truck.. RIVIAN!.. who the f is Rivian? Tesla's X already does it in 3.5 or less.. and has for years now! Audi comes out with a 5.7 sec 0-60? That's your break out EV! That's your best foot forward? REALLY?? Ok.. 0-60 aint everything... what's the range? WHAT? what's its efficiency on the road? WHAT? Are you kidding me? They suck at everything this bad except.. oh it's got a nicer interior then a Tesla.. pff.. maybe in some peoples opinion.. but I thought that interior looked a bit lame.. not horrible.. but nothing that amazing.. good quality.. sure.. but I don't like the layout at all! Ok.. my opinion.. yeah.. but you get to the numbers on everything and it's not opinion any more.. the numbers say this thing is years and years behind where it should be

In technology,comfort,looks Audi has done a great work with it infact it's a great car... But for me The jaguar i-pace is the best EV present now in the market ahead of Tesla because its relaible And its a perfect blend of everything from economic to technological aspects

This is one of the best videos you have made, so much detail whilst being interesting! Keep up the good work!

Really love the reviews by Jonny Smith and he is informative and clear. Definitely does his homework. FCShow really does nice editing and graphics for presentation.